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By Christopher Oji
Chairman of the Apapa-Iganmu Local Council Development Authority (LCDA), Lagos State, Jimoh Olawale Saliu, has accused top military officers of being patrons of illicit drug peddlers in the Apapa area of the state. He also alleged that some billionaires within the community were financiers of the illicit drug business.
In a statement yesterday, Saliu identified Gidan Drama in Marine Beach community of Apapa, a stone’s throw from the Tego Army Barracks, as the centre of the illicit drug trade.
Describing the place as a hideout for notorious criminals, the LCDA helmsman stressed that various criminal acts were being perpetrated in the domain, notably the sale of drugs and stolen goods, among others. The chairman accused the military officers of shielding the criminals from arrest and, oftentimes, threatening and arresting council officials on official duty to the place.
Saliu, who spoke at an event marking the 70th anniversary of Corona Schools Trust Council, held at St. Theresa Nursery and Primary School, Marine Beach, therefore, urged the state government and good-spirited organizations to acquire the place for the construction of a secondary school.
According to him, the scenario requires the attention of the whole world, not just the chairman or the governor, emphasising that the patrons are influencial.
“The security situation in the LCDA is so bad and porous that even here in Marine Beach, there is a place called Gida Drama, which is a nightmare to our existence.
“Since yesterday, the whole area has been troubled by these bad boys and I have been with the police trying to track them down. If you go to there now, you will find top military and police officers making it difficult to arrest drug peddlers and other criminal elements operating in the place. When they commit any criminal act, they run into the place and when you get there, you are prevented from making arrest.
“With this situation, the future of these children is not certain. We have many millionaires and billionaires in this community, none of them is investing in its future or in the course of development. If you go to Gidan Drama in the night, you will see them bringing out bails of naira, buying all sorts of illicit drugs. If any local government official goes in there, he will be threatened or arrested.
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“I remember three of my staff from Apapa-Iganmu LCDA were arrested last two weeks and taken to Naval Dock yard. I had to call the commander that so ,so persons who were on intelligence visit to Gildan drama have been arrested, before they were released and their seized mobile phones.
“This is not so good for an old age. Regrettably, these drugs are not being sold by young boys, instead the old women and men. We arrested two in my area last week when the police came for a raid. One of them hid the illicit drug in her wrapper. When the police men were chasing some boys, I asked them to unwrap the wrapper of one of the women, what they saw was disheartening.
“Each time I think of this, I feel bag and weep for the future of the young ones. If these children are the leaders of tomorrow, is there any tomorrow for them? No education, no better environment, no good parenting. What is happening in Apapa-Iganmu needs the attention of the whole world, not just only of the chairman or the governor,because the sponsors or barons of what is happening in Gildan drama are more than the governor, they are mainly highest ranking officers of the military.I am saying this openly, I have been there several times. I have not been attacked because they know I am a son of the soil and the council chairman, but it’s very difficult for me to do anything.
“If your body can start to raise its voice that Marine Beach deserves a secondary school and the school can be sited at Gildan drama, may be this will end the madness”, the statement stated.
He commended the Corona School Trust Council for its initiative of investing in the education and future of the children.
He appealed to the Corona School Trustee Council to replicate same gesture as that of Bariga to enable the children of the vicinity benefit sam, just as he lamented that the absence of senior secondary school in the LCDA.
Speaking at the occasion, chief executive officer of Corona Schools Trust Council ,Adedoyin Adesina stated that her group is committed to addressing the out-of school children syndrome over the years.
She disclosed that 75 children have been enrolled into school in Ago – Egun community in Bariga LCDA within three years, adding that same would be replicated in Gangare of Apapa Iganmu LCDA.
“As we speak, we have enrolled 75 children into school in Ago-egun community in Bariga LCDA. Our plan is to go round all education district in Lagos and we have chosen Gangare area area of Apapa as the next port of call. Today,we are enrolling 25 children, another 25 will be enrolled next year and the third year , another set of 25 children will be enrolled, to complete the circle. When we enrolled the children in the school, we try to support their families and the school as much as possible as we can”, Adesina stressed.
